Lightweight carbon fiber into the era of the automobile industry "darling"

Reuters reported on the 16th , the German car manufacturer BMW AG (BMW) and automotive carbon fiber producer SGL Carbon (SGL) plans to invest over 100 million euros to the co-production of carbon fiber production from 3,000 tons per year to 6,000 tons, this investment will enable BMW and SGL carbon fiber production to improve Germany , and the United States in order to meet growing market demand for the BMW i series of electric vehicles, and also in the end of next year is expected to be listed on the BMW 7 Series car on , in order to reduce the weight of the new BMW vehicles and reduce carbon dioxide emissions .

Boosted by the news , the German car manufacturer of carbon fiber SGL Carbon SE (SGL.XE) 5 date of the stock has risen 12.24 percent to 30.71 euros ; at the Tokyo Stock Exchange listed Toray ( 3402 ) in the past year, the stock has risen 26% to 709 yen ; World ranked third in the U.S. carbon fiber Zoltek companies (ZOLT) in the past year the stock has risen 104.77% to $ 16.75 . Analysts pointed out that due to the global automotive companies, especially luxury car prices are very positive about the carbon fiber car , the next 3-5 years will be the stage of rapid development of carbon fiber , related industrial chain manufacturers earnings can be expected.

Carbon fiber applications prospects

Information , the carbon fiber is a carbon content of at least 95 % of the high strength , high modulus fiber material of new fibers. Compared with steel, its strength up to 10 times, while only a quarter of the weight . As sintered together with resin composite materials industry , now mostly been used in aircraft fuselage . Insiders pointed out that , if the material is used in the automotive sector , will increase fuel efficiency by at least 40% , but also because of greatly reducing vehicle weight , which can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions , is a rare new environmental protection materials.

Under normal circumstances , the body weight of about 70% of the fuel consumption , and therefore the most important issue is to reduce vehicle fuel consumption and reduce vehicle weight . Japan Society of carbon fiber A test was done on the carbon fibers life cycle , using the carbon fiber-reinforced automotive reduced due to its own weight , not only greatly improve the efficiency of fuel use , and indirectly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

SGL Carbon is the world's largest producer of carbon and graphite products , automotive parts suppliers in the field has an important strategic position , the company has a production of carbon fiber joint venture in Seattle . In November 2011 , after BMW rival Volkswagen , following its acquisition of 8.18% equity interest in SGL Carbon, announced the acquisition of SGL Carbon15.16% stake in less than a month after a period of time , BMW again holdings SGL Carbon15 .7 % of the shares.

December 2012 , BMW announced joint American Airlines Boeing jointly develop carbon fiber technology , respectively, for their automotive and aerospace manufacturing industries. November 2013 , the U.S. " Business Week" reported that BMW invested again in the U.S. state of Washington $ 100 million for the production of the company's electric car carbon fiber material . The report shows that BMW's investment in the production of carbon fiber material not only reduce the weight of the BMW electric car , but can be achieved on a single charge can run farther than ever mileage number. Data show that the BMW i3 listed last November has already attracted more than 11,000 orders , which will be launched this year in mid- i8 plug -in hybrid sports car first orders have already been sold out.Wholesale masking tape

Car carbon fiber demand is expected to surge

Currently, the U.S. General Motors is striving for carbon fiber production car. According to the Institute Toray operating statistics , the global carbon fiber market demand of about 40,000 tons in 2011 , in which the carbon fiber used in cars is about 2,000 tons. And this figure will continue to expand from about 2015 onwards, the 2020s will reach several tons.

Sweden -based Volvo S80 has successfully developed a prototype to create a new storage materials. This storage material is made of carbon fiber and a resin multi-layer polymer, the nanostructures have sandwich each battery and a capacitor . Replace the torsion bar and the engine cover plate with a combination of super- capacitors , so that , Volvo engineers can replace the in-vehicle electronic power 12 volt battery , while the weight of the half. Currently , Volvo has been in the car body and tail cover engine cover use of this new carbon fiber battery material, compared with the traditional electric cars , not only reduces the weight of the battery , but also enhances the carbon fiber body rigidity.Masking tape

Asian markets, Toray , Toyota and the University of Tokyo has been adopted , such as light weight, high strength carbon fiber car in joint development , promoting research and processing technology , and is expected as early 2020, 60% weight reduction , higher security new energy vehicles will be fully put into practical application . According to Nikkei Shimbun reported that the Japanese Toray Group in September last year to spend nearly 70 billion yen to acquire the world's third-ranked American carbon fiber Zoltek Companies (Zoltek), Toray thereby became the world's largest carbon fiber supply suppliers, the product of the global share to 30% , continue to ensure that dominant market share .

Currently, the biggest drawback of the carbon fibers is relatively expensive , is several times to several ten iron , penetration is low . Toray through mergers and acquisitions Zoltek, aims to develop low-cost carbon fiber fields. Under the leadership of Toray , the world's second largest carbon fiber manufacturer Teijin and the fourth-largest maker Mitsubishi Rayon has also begun to expand production capacity , the industry believes that in the next five years , Japanese companies is expected to further expand in the field of carbon materials advantage. Currently, Japan's Mitsubishi Rayon also plans to increase the annual U.S. factory equipment after 2014 , the annual production capacity increased by 20% to about 10,000 tons in the existing basis , will be for the expansion of the BMW as a major supplier of customers . The Teijin is with the U.S. General Motors in the use of carbon fiber technology aspects of cooperation is expected in 2014 will build factories in the United States , and for the supply of carbon fiber production car .Washi tape

Industry insiders pointed out that the prospect of carbon fiber composites in automotive applications can be expected , car demand is expected to significantly improve , especially luxury cars and ultra- luxury vehicle segment . At present, many OEM factories not only in cooperation with a supplier , but also co-operation with manufacturers to manufacture carbon fiber parts are available . Evonik same as Johnson Controls , Jacob Plastics (Jacob Plastic) and East Bonthe Nexus (Toho Tenax) joint research and development of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) lightweight materials ; Dutch Royal Tan card lawn (TenCate) and Toray reached a long-term supply agreements ; Toray and Daimler (Daimler) reached a joint research and development agreement for the Mercedes - Benz developed CFRP components. Because of increased demand , the major manufacturers are stepping up research and development of carbon fiber , carbon fiber composite material production technology in the near future , or will have a new breakthrough.Sellotape